Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Lawmaker Wants BIG M Casino

January 28, 2010

The Meadowlands needs a world-class casino — not just a “racino” with video lottery terminals — state Sen. Paul Sarlo, a longtime proponent of racinos, suggested Tuesday during a conference about the horse-racing industry’s woes.

“Could you imagine a high-end, full-fledged casino in the Meadowlands?” Sarlo, who also is mayor Wood-Ridge, asked during a panel discussion presented by the Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau in Lyndhurst. “The revenue stream created in the shadow of New York City would be magnificent. We’re beyond [just] VLTs at this point. If we are to do this, we need to do it right.”

The panel — which also included state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth and three leading New Jersey horse industry officials — analyzed what should be done about the state’s horse racing struggles. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority is facing a $22 million loss on operations this year at the Meadowlands Racetrack and at Monmouth Park.

Sports authority Chairman Carl Goldberg, a prominent real estate executive, was asked at the conference how attractive the Meadowlands Sports Complex could be to possible casino developers.

“The number is almost incalculable,” Goldberg said. “This would be the most valuable parcel of real estate for the expansion of gaming, maybe not only in the U.S., but the world.”

Beck, who also has supported the introduction of VLTs at the racetracks, focused Tuesday on adding “more diversified gambling” to the tracks. She said that could include keno, slots or table games at tracks — and maybe even legalized gambling elsewhere, such as keno at taverns.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said that he would talk to Sarlo about the concept.

“I’m not supportive of expanding casinos all throughout the state at this time,” Sweeney said, noting that it would take a statewide referendum to end Atlantic City’s monopoly on gaming.

“If it’s just a shift [of revenues], I’m concerned about [the casino operators] abandoning Atlantic City. And if you start talking about the Meadowlands, then what about Jersey City, Newark and about depressed communities that would benefit [from building a casino]?”

Sweeney also said he doesn’t support Beck’s concepts.

Governor Christie’s transition team report on state gaming concluded last week that officials should analyze the possible effect of VLTs on the state’s ailing horseracing industry. But he said on the campaign trail that Atlantic City’s casino problems need to be addressed before considering gaming elsewhere.

The panelists each pointed to the fact that Pennsylvania and New York have been earning hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years from New Jersey residents who find it more convenient to go to Yonkers Raceway’s slots parlors or to new casinos in Bethlehem, Pa., and near Philadelphia.

“There has been a great expansion of gaming in a five-state region, and the state of New Jersey did nothing, absolutely nothing,” Beck said. “The Atlantic City casinos did nothing. The horseracing industry did nothing. And, as a result, we’ve seen a decline across the board of gaming in the state of New Jersey.”

Beck said Atlantic Citys’ dire struggles during the past 18 months should make them reconsider their opposition to North Jersey gaming.